Hurricane Season in St. Petersburg

Hurricane season for St. Petersburg runs from June 1 to November 30, and the Atlantic peak falls on September 10, with most activity occurring between mid-August and mid-October.

The City of St. Petersburg points residents to the National Hurricane Center for the latest tropical information (City of St. Petersburg Hurricane Center). The season dates cover the whole Atlantic basin, which the National Hurricane Center defines as the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of America (National Hurricane Center climatology). The National Hurricane Center adds that storms sometimes form before June 1 and after November 30. Based on the 1991 to 2020 climate period, an average season brings 14 named storms, 7 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes of Category 3 or stronger.

NOAA's August 6, 2026 update kept a below-normal forecast for the Atlantic season that St. Petersburg prepares for: 7 to 13 named storms, 2 to 6 hurricanes and 0 to 2 major hurricanes.

The update gave a 75% chance of below-normal activity, a 20% chance of a near-normal season and a 5% chance of an above-normal one (NOAA outlook update). As of August 6 the 2026 season had produced two named storms, Arthur and Bertha, and no hurricanes. Both formed in the Gulf: Arthur in mid-June off the Texas coast, and Bertha south of the Florida panhandle before making landfall in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana. NOAA expected activity for the rest of the season to be tempered by El Nino, which first emerged in the equatorial Pacific in June and increases wind shear that tends to keep storms from forming or strengthening. The forecast ranges cover the entire season from June 1 through November 30 and include the storms that had already formed (NOAA). NOAA's National Weather Service Director Ken Graham noted that inland rainfall is a major cause of damage from tropical storms and hurricanes, as Arthur demonstrated, and urged preparing for every storm projected to affect an area, even one that never reaches hurricane strength. The City of St. Petersburg says hurricane preparedness is a part of life in St. Pete and urges precautions before, during and after a storm (City of St. Petersburg).

A St. Petersburg household must leave when its Pinellas County evacuation zone, which is based on storm surge risk, is named in an evacuation order; mobile and manufactured homes must always leave.

The City of St. Petersburg says much of St. Pete lies in evacuation zones and urges residents to make a plan before a storm approaches (City of St. Petersburg Hurricane Center). Its Prepare, St. Pete map shows a household's evacuation zone alongside the City Stormwater Floodplain, which marks areas with a 1% or greater chance of rainfall flooding each year, the FEMA flood zones and an active crane radius layer. The zone answers the evacuation question; the flood layers answer a different one about rain and insurance.

Pinellas County explains why the surge zone rules. Storm surge can range from a few feet to over 30 feet, reaches coastal areas first and then moves farther inland, is fast-moving and fast-rising, and can wash away buildings and roadways (Pinellas County storm surge). The county's short version is: Run from the water. Hide from the wind. Pinellas County ordered a mandatory level A and mobile home evacuation during Hurricane Idalia in 2023, and people who stayed found themselves in dangerous flood conditions (Pinellas County evacuation).

Leaving does not mean leaving the region. Pinellas County notes that going outside the area ordered to evacuate is enough, and that a home in a non-evacuation area of the county, or a hotel there, can serve (Pinellas County). For anyone who goes farther, the county says leaving earlier makes for an easier drive and points to fl511.com for road conditions.

A St. Petersburg evacuation plan needs a destination, a way to get there, the documents for re-entry and a plan for pets, all settled before a storm threatens Pinellas County.

Pinellas County lists the documents to carry: identification, proof of residency such as a bill, and a barrier island emergency access permit to help with re-entry (Pinellas County evacuation). When a storm threatens, the county advises filling the gas tank or charging electric vehicles, getting cash, refilling medications and checking on neighbors. Pets go along: the county says never to stay home because of a pet.

For residents without a car, the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) runs most regular routes during evacuations, and rides to shelters are free (Pinellas County). Cats and small dogs ride in a crate and large dogs on a muzzle leash. PSTA service may stop several hours before conditions turn dangerous, so a St. Petersburg rider has to leave early. Residents who cannot use public transit and need transportation assistance must register with the county's Special Needs Evacuation Program, and the county warns not to wait for a hurricane to do so.

St. Petersburg residents can get up to 10 sandbags per household year-round at the city's Pavement and Traffic Operations Building, 1744 9th Ave. N., and at six more city sites once a storm warning is declared.

Proof of residence, such as a driver's license, is required, and staff help seniors and others who cannot fill and load their own bags (City of St. Petersburg sandbags). The year-round site is open Monday to Friday and every second Saturday of the month from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The storm sites open after a tropical storm or hurricane warning, and may open earlier depending on the storm's direction or the tides.

The city's setup advice: stack the bags in a staggered pattern like bricks, at least two to three layers high, and line the barrier with plastic sheeting or a tarp when significant rainfall is forecast (City of St. Petersburg). Flood sandbags cannot be reused for landscaping and go to the Pinellas County Solid Waste Disposal Complex at 3905 114th Ave. N. On October 15, 2026 the city page listed the 1744 9th Ave. N. site as currently open and the six storm condition sites as currently closed. Last verified: October 15, 2026, on the City of St. Petersburg website.

The City of St. Petersburg asks residents to charge electric vehicles fully, haul out or tie down boats, and bring trash and recycling bins inside before a storm, then to plan for three to seven days of uncertainty afterward.

For an electric vehicle that will evacuate, the city advises keeping the battery at 100% and not counting on chargers along the route (City of St. Petersburg Hurricane Center). One left behind should be parked out of flood-prone areas, at least 50 feet from any structure or other vehicle, unplugged, and kept below 30% charge, because saltwater can lead to a battery fire days, weeks or even months after exposure. Boat owners are told to remove sails, dinghies and other movable gear, take the boat out of the water if possible, and move a trailered boat away from flood areas long before tropical storm winds arrive.

After the storm, St. Petersburg tells residents to expect three to seven days of uncertainty and warns that, if Pinellas County is hit by a hurricane, it could be several weeks or even months before life returns to normal (City of St. Petersburg). Dark traffic signals are treated as four-way stops. Before debris goes to the curb, the city asks for photos and video of all damage for insurance and FEMA claims, and the storm history of Helene and Milton in 2024 is covered in the St. Petersburg historical storm impacts guide.